A MULTI-AWARDWINNING Glasgow theatre company for young people is to close because of “funding challenges” in the Scottish arts scene.

Junction 25, which has been based at Tramway for 15 years has been hailed as one of the best in the UK, with a clutch of awards under its belt.

In September 2019, a book about the work of the company and its unique approach to devising theatre will be published.

A Beginners Guide to Devising Theatre has been written by co-artistic directors Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore, who set up Junction 2015 in 2005 when they were newly qualified graduates.

They announced the closure on Monday, citing “the increasingly challenging situation with arts funding in Scotland.”

Jess said: “In almost 15 years we have achieved more than we could ever have hoped. Working with so many young artists has been a huge highlight and represents so much learning and joy for us.”

Tashi added: “We are so sad to be ending this chapter but excited to be bringing out the book as a direct celebration of the amazing community of creativity and exploration we have all built together.”

Junction 25 was produced by Glass Performance in partnership with Tramway.

Made up of young people aged between 11 and 18, it has created and performed thirteen pieces of new work and toured to festivals and venues across Scotland and internationally.

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In 2011 they presented I Hope My Heart Goes First at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Made in Scotland programme where they received a Herald Angel Award from our sister title, and were named number 27 in the List Magazine’s Hot 100 of Scottish Creative Talent.

In 2015 Junction 25 were awarded the prestigious CATS Whiskers award for an outstanding achievement in pioneering and high-quality work by young people.

Councillor David McDonald, chairperson of Glasgow Life and depute leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Over 15 glorious years, Junction 25 has allowed countless young people to express themselves through performance which has travelled across Scotland and far beyond, showcasing often extraordinary talent through contemporary works.

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“Tramway’s unique spaces and production expertise created an ideal home for the groups of young people who worked with Jess and Tashi to produce work based upon their own agenda and ideas, with award-winning results.”

Glass Performance will continue to make new performance work in Scotland and internationally on a project to project basis.